Storque Article on Etsy

Well, I didn't find out about this until today, but in December my Soap Sampler was featured in this Storque article on Etsy.

My Son's New Ax

Here's my rocknrolla Geoffrey, with his new guitar. To pay it off, he's cleaning and painting the entire outside of the house!

New Connections

I've set up a profile on the very cool new site called MadeByHand.ByMe! It lets people who Twitter follow a lot of different handmade shops, as well as allowing shops to have one central location with all their shops and blogs, etc. listed. I'm still feeling iffy about Twitter, I don't want to overextend myself with social networking. I'm not sure if that's the way to market your products. After all, sometimes your friends just want to talk to you, yanno? Instead of trying to sell everyone something every minute of the day.

I had to set up another Facebook page, which is now here. It's kind of annoying to have to start all over again there. On the other hand, I found a couple of my old PhotoImpact friends, which was very rewarding. I can tell you for sure, I won't be joining any high school groups ever again!

Last night I made a really big batch of Celtic Moonspice soap. I put it on the back porch and left it there overnight. I woke up and noticed how cool it was this morning, and was afraid the soap hadn't gelled because the temperature dropped below 45. I just went out to check and the soap is still really hot, it gelled out to the corners of the mold. That makes me happy because I like the translucency and sheen of fully gelled soap.

Vanilla de Madagascar Super Bubbling Handmade Soap

It's in my shop as of today, a bold experiment that yielded fabulous results! Usually I use a blend of 5-6 oils and butters in my soaps, but my friends at the Soap Dish forum turned me on to "Break the Rules" soap -- 75% Coconut Oil, 25% Cocoa Butter! Usually more than 30% Coconut is not recommended because some people find it drying. However, this is "superfatted" at 20%, which means a good portion of lovely oil and butter wasn't saponified, and is floating around in that luscious soap and it won't dry your skin out. In fact, it leaves it feeling wonderful.

I had to make some last month because I lurve me some Cocoa Butter in my soap, and 25% is totally extravagant. Plus the scent is extravagantly luscious, like Madagascar Vanilla beans, deep and rich. And the soap is almost black, it's so dark, but the amazingly bountiful lather is pure white and creamy rich. I've already sold 2 bars today, so I think this one might go fast.

I found out that Facebook disabled my account because I joined a network that I thought was for alumni of my high school in Miami. Apparently you are only allowed to join if you are currently a high school student, even though I recognized a lot of names including the one of the person who invited me to join the group.

So I wrote to Facebook, they told me they had disabled my account "in error," which doesn't jibe with the earlier communication that I was not allowed in this high school network. They told me they apologized and my account had been reinstated. Except that I still can't log in or see anyone's Facebook, much less my own. Sheesh!

Well, I need to get busy making more lip balm. After a full year and tinkering with a very expensive formulation, I have finally devised what I think is the perfect lip balm. It's got so much luxury stuff in it, it's ridiculous. But it is truly awesome. :D

Facebook....Huh?

Now this is really strange. The only reason I joined Facebook was so I could share photos and news with my family. Today I tried to log in and found that my account had been "Disabled by an Administrator." WTF? I'm trying to understand why that would happen. It's not like I'm a rabble rouser or something. Now I cannot see my own page, and I can't see anyone else's either.

Vicky was home for a long weekend and went back to college today. I miss her so much. Even though she's not really home that much when she's here, I miss seeing her in the mornings and for dinner, watching TV, all the little ways you spend time with your children. I really cherish those times.

I added a new soap to my Etsy shop today, Moon Dance. It's an awesome unisex fragrance.

I Made a Wristlet Bag!

I haven't done much sewing recently and I miss it. I've been looking for a quick, fun sewing project, so I bought this adorable little Curvy Clutch wristlet bag pattern from KeykaLou on Etsy. I want to emphasize that not only is this a great little pattern, but the step-by-step instructions are very well written, and there's lots of supporting information and sewing tips on her web site.

Anyway, I just had to make one and went right down to JoAnne's to use up my 40% coupon. Well, by the time I bought fabric, lining, interfacing, thread, D-rings, lobster clasp, etc. I probably could've bought something for way less, but it wouldn't have been this damn cute! I fell in love with this crazy little fish design. It's lined with a blue batik that looks like an underwater grotto. The whole bag is only about 8" X 5" so it's great for when you just need to make a quick run to the store.

Mensa Invitational

Last night we watched the first 3 episodes of "The Tudors" on DVD. Wow! I'm going right down to Blockbuster today and get the next 3! It's really, really good.

Wouldn't you know it? A couple weeks ago I finally passed 1,000 sales on Etsy and made the Etsy Wiki bestseller list. Now they've changed the list so you only get on it if you make 1,600 sales. So I have to make 303 more sales to get back on the list.

Thanks to my friend Kathy for sending me this! :D

Here is the Washington Post's Mensa invitational - which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are the winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus (n.): A person who's both stupid and an butthole.

3. Intaxication (n.): Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation (n.): Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Foreploy (n.): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

7. Giraffiti (n.): Vandalism spray-painted very,very high.

8. Sarchasm (n.): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the Person who doesn't get it.

9. Inoculatte (v.): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. Osteopornosis (n.): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

11. Karmageddon (n.): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

12. Decafalon (n.): The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

13. Glibido (n.): All talk and no action.

14. Dopeler effect (n.): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

15. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

17. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.